Good Shepherd

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep.” – Ezekiel 34:11-12

In Chapter 34 of Ezekiel, God gives us a picture of Himself as the ultimate Good Shepherd. This is a foreshadow of Jesus who told us in John 10:11, “I am the Good Shepherd.” In this chapter, God reveals 5 important characteristics of the Good Shepherd:

1. He Searches for His Sheep – Jesus said in Luke 19:10, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” As the Good Shepherd, Jesus cares about us and won’t let us just wander off and get lost in a culture that is far from Him. 
2. He Rescues His Sheep – No only does Jesus search for us when we are lost, He rescues us when we are trapped. Sometimes we get trapped by our sin, our circumstances, the enemy, depression, etc. The good news is that Jesus loves us and will come to the rescue!
3. He Restores His Sheep – Even though we sometimes wander off and get lost and trapped in our own rebelliousness, Jesus doesn’t reject us. Instead He forgives us and restores us back into His fold. 
4. He Feeds His Sheep – When Jesus restores us He takes us out of the wilderness where we have been feeding on the thorny weeds and burnt grass of the culture and brings us to a place where we can feast on the fresh green grass of His word that truly nourishes our souls and gives us inner strength 
5. He Heals His Sheep – Finally, once we are safely back in His fold, feeding on the richness of His Word, Jesus begins to heal the wounds we suffered when we were lost and on our own. 

Be encouraged today. Jesus is your Good Shepherd and He is looking after you!!